Southern New Hampshire University: Administration Requires Students Seek Approval of Invitations to Weed Out Controversial Speakers

On March 30, Southern New Hampshire University told the College Republicans chapter that the university administration must review and approve all invitations to speakers to ensure they “are not so controversial that they would draw unwanted demonstrators” to campus. FIRE wrote SNHU on May 18 explaining that this prior review requirement violates the university’s expressive promises, as does avoidance of subjectively controversial expression. SNHU responded to FIRE  claiming that the university’s policy is consistent with its free speech promises and respects students’ expressive rights. On July 18, FIRE replied to urge  SNHU to allow students to invite speakers to campus without prior university review and approval.